Never in my life time have I seen a member of the US figure skating team finish 22nd. And I am not young by any means as I was there when Peggy Fleming won her gold in 1968.

Nicole Bobek did not get out of the qualifying iround n 1994 and finished 25th. This left it up to 13-year-old Michelle Kwan at her first world championships to try to finish in the top ten and get two spots for U.S. ladies for the next year. Could she she do it?

The year before, Tonia Kwiatkowski also did not get out of the qualifying round and finished 31st.

Anyway, yes, this was a heartbreaking setback for Alissa. That's why everyone is wishing her good luck for next year.

Nicole Bobek did not get out of the qualifying iround n 1994 and finished 25th. This left it up to 13-year-old Michelle Kwan at her first world championships to try to finish in the top ten and get two spots for U.S. ladies for the next year. Could she she do it?

The year before, Tonia Kwiatkowski also did not get out of the qualifying round and finished 31st.

Anyway, yes, this was a heartbreaking setback for Alissa. That's why everyone is wishing her good luck for next year.

Bentley is correct; neither Bobek nor Kwia finished 22nd. That said, I don't think Alissa's SP would have gotten her to the LP under the old system, as we saw Chen Lu at least land a 3T when she didn't make the LP in 1997.

Nicole Bobek did not get out of the qualifying iround n 1994 and finished 25th. This left it up to 13-year-old Michelle Kwan at her first world championships to try to finish in the top ten and get two spots for U.S. ladies for the next year. Could she she do it?

And she came in eighth. I remember crying when she skated; it was so thrilling. Interestingly, the skater it benefited the next year was Bobek, who I think ended up winning bronze at 1995 Worlds. Kwan came in fourth in that Worlds in 1995, the last year she was off the podium until I think 2004.

By the way, another skater who didn't make the cut in 1993 (along with Kwiatkowski) was Maria Butyrskaya, a future world champion.

Originally Posted by Olympia

And she came in eighth. I remember crying when she skated; it was so thrilling. Interestingly, the skater it benefited the next year was Bobek, who I think ended up winning bronze at 1995 Worlds. Kwan came in fourth in that Worlds in 1995, the last year she was off the podium until I think 2004.

2005. 2004 was the year she got a time penalty in the short program, was harassed by an on-ice stalker in the long, and still grabbed the bronze.

In 1995 she landed seven clean triples, plus two double Axels (one in combination). She should have been on the podium that year, too.

Hopefully Czisny can go out on a more positive note, and I wish her luck. Go out like Flatt did at this year's nationals. But...I hope she's never on another US world team again. The very fact that she claims she has no idea what happened (seriously??!?) means that such a disaster could happen again. 4 trips. 3 times she blew it. 25% success rate. No, not when we have several other skaters that can do better than 22nd.

Not sure why USFS even bothered to offer her WTT. Talk about rewarding failure, man...face, meet palm and if they do put her on another world team (especially the crucial 2013 team that will decide Oly spots), they deserve what's coming...

I will be supporting other skaters at next year's nationals, hoping others will finally be given a shot. At some point you've got to look at the numbers. Time to throw support behind promising skaters and young talent. Even if Czisny bounces back, not sure it will be easy to get on the world team again. IF Wagner, Gold, Nagasu, Zhang skate strong performances...she'll have to be at her best.